TECHNOLOGY
Chris Montgomery
ZOOMING IN
Technology is helping to make sure that recovery workers
and clients stay connected. While it can never take the place
of face-to-face working we should retain the best parts of the
‘Zoom boom’, says Charlotte Hadaway
The lockdown has
changed my working
day. As an outreach
worker in Devon I can
travel up to 60 miles
a day to see my clients. We’re
a very rural county, so I work
from a number of Together/EDP
hubs as well as GP surgeries and
community locations.
Before lockdown, technology
enabled me to do simple things like
keep an online diary so everyone
knew where I was and who I was
seeing, or write up my notes on
the hoof using Wi-Fi and phone
tethering. When lockdown hit, all this
changed. We had to adapt quickly
to be able to offer a safe and secure
service, and I have to say Together/
EDP have been brilliant at supporting
us during the changes. We have daily
virtual meetings with managers and
team members, we’re kept really
well informed of developments and
what we need to do to keep everyone
safe, and we’ve been encouraged
to use virtual groups utilising
Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, Zoom
and other technologies. I think it’s
fair to say that we’ve adapted well
and changed the way we work – we
continuously share the experience,
reflect on what’s working, and keep
each other going.
GETTING STARTED
When we started setting up Zoom
meetings we didn’t know how tech
savvy people were, but I was really
surprised that clients jumped at the
chance of joining an online group.
They really wanted to see each other
and know how they were getting on
in their recovery. It’s never quite the
same as being in the same room, but
it’s a great alternative. I don’t think
you can beat human contact because
you see people’s expressions, you
see their movements, you can look
into people’s eyes and you can see
behaviours better up close. You can
still see that on Zoom, but it’s not as
powerful as face-to-face.
KEEP IT CLEAR
We are very clear about our
meeting rules with Zoom, especially
around respecting each other and
confidentiality. I find that when
people do share their feelings,
others still connect well with them
– they are very respectful, they are
listening to that person and that
person feels held by everybody
in the virtual group. The online
meetings have kept clients in
contact with each other. It’s often
just talking about the little things
that makes people feel they’re part
of something. Just knowing they’re
being heard is really important.
MORE CHOICE
What will happen beyond lockdown
is hard to tell, but I would like to
offer an evening virtual meeting
going forward. It will be easier for
some clients who experience high
anxiety or who are trying to work
full-time and manage their recovery.
I know that just getting to an
appointment can be quite stressful
for some people, so these digital
solutions are a great way for people
to have more choice in treatment.
I’ve also learnt that it is important to
be patient while clients are setting
up Zoom accounts, as tech can be
daunting for those not used to it.
It’s fair to say that most agree
there is a new place for virtual
groups post-lockdown. Of course,
nothing beats face-to-face group
work. The interaction between
clients can mean everything,
especially in early recovery. A hug,
a conversation over a cup of tea,
a chat in the break – it’s bonding,
‘I know that just
getting to an
appointment can
be quite stressful
for some people,
so these digital
solutions are a great
way for people to
have more choice in
treatment.’
friendship and fellowship all rolled
into one. But to meet online is the
next best thing, and I’m looking
forward to keeping the best bits as
we move forward and offer more
choice and variety to our clients.
Charlotte Hadaway is an
outreach recovery worker at
Together, part of EDP Drug &
Alcohol Services.
EDP is a subsidiary of the
Humankind charity
WWW.DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS.COM JUNE 2020 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • 13